Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 34

Thread: WOW...ultra cheap 1.74 high index lens?

  1. #1
    OptiBoard Novice
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7

    WOW...ultra cheap 1.74 high index lens?

    Just noticed that this online retailer is selling ultra cheap 1.74 high index lens. I recently paid US$275 for my 1.74 Essilor with Crizal Alize, did I get ripped off?

    US$117.31 for 1.74 high index lens with AR
    http://www.selectspecs.com/optional_...?item=option=1
    This is my first 1.74 high index lens and I'm astounded by the difference in price.

  2. #2
    One of the worst people here
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Canada
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    8,331
    Quote Originally Posted by webmal
    Just noticed that this online retailer is selling ultra cheap 1.74 high index lens. I recently paid US$275 for my 1.74 Essilor with Crizal Alize, did I get ripped off?

    US$117.31 for 1.74 high index lens with AR
    http://www.selectspecs.com/optional_...?item=option=1
    This is my first 1.74 high index lens and I'm astounded by the difference in price.
    because you went to see a qualified Optician. If you went to an online retailer you do not get that and with that lens it NEEDS to be fit properly.

    So, no you did not get ripped off. Getting ripped off is spending $117.31 for lenses that you may not see through.

  3. #3
    OptiBoard Novice
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7
    For-life, I'm aware of that fact. My point is; no online retailer is selling the 1.74 high index lens for less than US$200. How do they do it? Do they cut corners?

  4. #4
    One of the worst people here
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Canada
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    8,331
    Quote Originally Posted by webmal
    For-life, I'm aware of that fact. My point is; no online retailer is selling the 1.74 high index lens for less than US$200. How do they do it? Do they cut corners?
    could be the AR that they use. Could be a lie. Could be making bad business decisions.

  5. #5
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    609
    Quote Originally Posted by webmal
    For-life, I'm aware of that fact. My point is; no online retailer is selling the 1.74 high index lens for less than US$200. How do they do it? Do they cut corners?
    They may not have enough markup in them to warrant a remake if there is a problem. This is fine if your order isn't one of the ones which warrants a remake.

    You pays your money, you takes your chance.

  6. #6
    OptiBoard Novice
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7
    I did a bit of detective work and called selectspecs.com (based in the UK). I asked who manufactures their 1.74 high index lens and the rep claims that they manufacture it themselves. Is this plausible? I thought only 2-3 companies have the technology to manufacture 1.74 high index lens?

  7. #7
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    609
    Quote Originally Posted by webmal
    I did a bit of detective work and called selectspecs.com (based in the UK). I asked who manufactures their 1.74 high index lens and the guy claims that they manufacture it themselves. Is this plausible? I thought only 2-3 companies have the technology to manufacture 1.74 high index lens?
    I would suspect that is untrue.
    I would be **extremely** surprised if they do any more than cut the lenses to the shape of the frame.
    As I said they can make a profit at the price they quote if their redo's are low.
    In my experience the less a company charges, the less likely they are to remake an order which isn't quite right.

    So they are either brilliant at getting it all right first time, or they let some crap go out of the door. It's not for me to say.

  8. #8
    Manuf. Lens Surface Treatments
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    in Naples FL for the Winter months
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    23,240

    Redhot Jumper Others can too......................

    Quote Originally Posted by webmal
    I thought only 2-3 companies have the technology to manufacture 1.74 high index lens?
    I guess you can buiy semi finished blanks and if equiooed to surface them you can make them. All possible.

    The lens material is not not made by the companies advertising the lenses. They buy the monomer or the resin and then cast lenses, but so can anybody else that can get their hands on the materials.

  9. #9
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    609
    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Ryser
    I guess you can buiy semi finished blanks and if equiooed to surface them you can make them. All possible.

    The lens material is not not made by the companies advertising the lenses. They buy the monomer or the resin and then cast lenses, but so can anybody else that can get their hands on the materials.
    I would imagine this is more expensive than buying the stock blanks which in this material would probably serve range 10/2.

    I do not know of anyone in the UK who casts lenses. That is not to say it isnt done.

  10. #10
    OptiBoard Professional
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Above the visible spectrum
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    183

    Angry Not allowed to post prices!!!!

    I didn't think we were allowed to post prices, wholesale or otherwise anywhere in this forum??????:finger:

  11. #11
    OptiBoard Novice
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7
    Quote Originally Posted by High_Abbe
    I didn't think we were allowed to post prices, wholesale or otherwise anywhere in this forum??????:finger:
    I checked the sticky posts but couldn't find anything about posting prices. The price is really irrelevant, my point is the huge price difference. Nevertheless, my apologies if I broke the rules.

  12. #12
    Manuf. Lens Surface Treatments
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    in Naples FL for the Winter months
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    23,240

    Blue Jumper World is getting smaller..................

    Quote Originally Posted by rsandr
    I do not know of anyone in the UK who casts lenses. That is not to say it isnt done.
    I am not saying that this is the case, but do know that these days it is very easy to get materials of any kind from any corner of the globe. There is always somebody willing to make a sale.

    Like frames...............lenses these days are all made in the far east from Thailand to Malaysia and on to China. The large corporations also have their own plants all spread around.

    There are right now operating lens labs making Rx lenses in Thailand that are being sent by Fedex or DHL to Europe and it takes not any longer to get them than when you order locally.

    I am just trying to say that all this is possible today and easily arranged.

  13. #13
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    new york
    Occupation
    Optometrist
    Posts
    3,749
    Quote Originally Posted by webmal
    Just noticed that this online retailer is selling ultra cheap 1.74 high index lens. I recently paid US$275 for my 1.74 Essilor with Crizal Alize, did I get ripped off?

    US$117.31 for 1.74 high index lens with AR
    http://www.selectspecs.com/optional_...?item=option=1
    This is my first 1.74 high index lens and I'm astounded by the difference in price.
    You're not getting a "real" 1.74 with a "real" AR. You're probably getting a 1.67 with a generic AR. Contary to some of the posts here, I don't think that 1.74 material is widely available to "off-brand" companies. More importantly, you must have a high Rx...who is measuring your monocular PDs, your OC heights, pantoscopic tilt, and face form (if any)? These are the things a professional, in a face to face encounter with the patient, will measure and take care of for you. The on-line retailer is asking and doing none of these.

  14. #14
    OptiBoard Professional
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Longview, Texas
    Occupation
    Optical Retail
    Posts
    125
    Just like getting three pair of glasses for LOW $$$$$$. You get what you pay for.

  15. #15
    OptiBoard Novice
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7
    Quote Originally Posted by fjpod
    You're not getting a "real" 1.74 with a "real" AR. You're probably getting a 1.67 with a generic AR.

    Thanks for the interesting insight.

  16. #16
    Master OptiBoarder optigrrl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    The surface of the sun on a rainy day
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    1,336
    Is this for single vision or progressives?

  17. #17
    Rising Star
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    mass
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    151

    junk lenses

    Who will take the required measurements?

  18. #18
    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Ohio
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    400
    You get what you pay for.

    You got the best money can buy.

    There are cheaper 1.7s with lesser quality AR coatings available.

    Be happy with your deal.

  19. #19
    Pomposity! Spexvet's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    On my soapbox
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    3,760
    I'll sell you a car for $2,000. Wanna but it?
    ...Just ask me...

  20. #20
    OptiWizard
    Join Date
    Sep 2000
    Location
    plymouth, MA, USA
    Occupation
    Optometrist
    Posts
    1,036
    Webmal,

    Theres a lot of counterfeit product out there.

    If you brought in a pair of purchased elsewhere specs to my office and asked if you had 1.74, I wouldn't be able to tell you by looking at it.

    Kind of like 14 carat gold, the only way to tell if real is to melt it down. So you must trust your supplier.

  21. #21
    Software Engineer NetPriva.com mirage2k2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Australia
    Occupation
    Consumer or Non-Eyecare field
    Posts
    175
    I'd like to know why 1.74s are so expensive in the first place :angry:

    Is 1.74 material really that much more expensive to produce and process than CR39 - how can you justify being 3-4 times as expensive

    Perhaps the manufacturers are just cashing in on the demand.

  22. #22
    Master OptiBoarder
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Back in NYC.....Shenzhen, China and Hong Kong
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    1,155
    Quote Originally Posted by mirage2k2
    I'd like to know why 1.74s are so expensive in the first place :angry:

    Is 1.74 material really that much more expensive to produce and process than CR39 - how can you justify being 3-4 times as expensive

    Perhaps the manufacturers are just cashing in on the demand.
    Manufacturers have to pay for both material and design R&D costs. Typically, any new, "cutting edge" product in any field will have a higher cost as compared to when it was first introduced. The manufacturers want to recover as much of their original investment and make their biggest profit while the large margins are still attainable. A large percent of these profits are re-invested into R&D as well as advertising.

    You cannot look at the raw material cost alone. How many people and people hours did it take to get that new product to you? That is part of the equation too.

    Doc

  23. #23
    Software Engineer NetPriva.com mirage2k2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Australia
    Occupation
    Consumer or Non-Eyecare field
    Posts
    175
    I partly agree with you :) I'm a software engineer and our company can work for several years on r&d and new software and not earn a cent!

    However, expensive 1.74 material is 1) old hat already, 2) optically inferior to cheaper cr-39. It is just thin that is all!

  24. #24
    Software Engineer NetPriva.com mirage2k2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Australia
    Occupation
    Consumer or Non-Eyecare field
    Posts
    175
    It is all about vanity. People are prepared to pay lots of money to look good ;)

  25. #25
    Manuf. Lens Surface Treatments
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    in Naples FL for the Winter months
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    23,240

    Best comment..................

    Quote Originally Posted by mirage2k2
    However, expensive 1.74 material is 1) old hat already, 2) optically inferior to cheaper cr-39. It is just thin that is all!

    It is all about vanity. People are prepared to pay lots of money to look good
    How right you are................................Best comment ever on optiboard in reference to high index lenses.

    In the old days of corrected curve lenses (glass) the old high index were the flint lenses which had flat curves and were considered good only for estethics and lousy for optics. :D

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Questions while studying for optometry boards
    By Alvaro Cordova in forum Ophthalmic Optics
    Replies: 28
    Last Post: 02-27-2006, 11:39 AM
  2. High index options for > +10 prescription
    By maximum01 in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 33
    Last Post: 02-20-2006, 08:11 PM
  3. 1.74 high index lenses available now in the States!
    By Happylady in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 31
    Last Post: 11-12-2005, 10:59 PM
  4. Use if High Index Lenses for Pediatric Eyewear
    By Informed Consumer in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: 02-10-2005, 10:51 PM
  5. 1.74 High Index
    By PBS in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 06-22-2001, 05:47 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •